Multiple chamber septic tank with a plurality of large and small access ports

Abstract

A septic tank system includes a multiple compartmented (or chambered) supplemental tank. The supplemental tank has a cover/lid with a plurality of strategically situated access holes (both small and large ports) for servicing the various chambers from above ground.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A septic tank system, said tank system comprising:
 (a) a first septic tank, 
 (b) at least one of a leach field or an infiltration pit, 
 (c) a second tank between the first septic tank and the leach field or between the first septic tank and the infiltration pit, the second tank divided into a plurality of adjacent chambers, at least one of the adjacent chambers being an aeration chamber configured to convert ammonia-nitrogen to nitrate-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen and configured to reduce biochemical oxygen demand, the aeration chamber containing one or more media fixed within the aeration chamber, the one or more media selected from the group consisting of limestone, a plastic bio-support media, a wood-based media and combinations thereof; 
 (d) a rigid tubular channel at or near a floor region of the aeration chamber, the floor region beneath the one or more media; 
 (e) a surface air pump and an air line hose, the air line hose: (i) being encased in the rigid tubular channel, and (ii) sized and positioned for performing air delivery to promote mixing and aeration within the aeration chamber, the air line hose being made of a flexible plastic material and having an impermeable section positioned and configured to transport air from the surface air pump to a permeable section of the air line hose that sits in the rigid tubular channel, at or near the floor region of the aeration chamber, and beneath the one or more media; and 
 (f) a second tank cover lid having two one or more substantially vertical access ports that extend from above the aeration chamber in the second tank, through the cover lid and to an above ground area, the one or more access ports configured and sized for inserting and removing, through said one or more access ports, the air line hose in the rigid tubular channel, from the above ground area without having to enter the second tank. 
 
     
     
       2. The tank system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of adjacent chambers comprises a de-nitrification chamber. 
     
     
       3. The tank system of  claim 1  wherein the surface air pump can be turned on and off from the above ground area. 
     
     
       4. The tank system of  claim 1  wherein the rigid tubular channel includes a plurality holes and/or baffle grates arranged so that the one or more media fixed within the aeration chamber contact with air bubbles coming from said holes and/or baffle grates. 
     
     
       5. The tank system of  claim 1  wherein the air line hose has an internal diameter ranging from 0.25 to 6 inches across. 
     
     
       6. The tank system of  claim 1 , which further includes at least one small diameter access port adapted for adding bacterial seed sludge to the supplemental tank. 
     
     
       7. A second tank downstream of a first septic tank, said second tank comprising:
 (a) a concrete outer shell divided into a plurality of adjacent chambers, at least one of the adjacent chambers being an aeration chamber for converting ammonia-nitrogen to nitrate-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen and reducing biochemical oxygen demand, the aeration chamber containing one or more media fixed within the aeration chamber for supporting bio growth under aerobic conditions, the one or more media selected from the group consisting of limestone, a plastic bio-support media, a wood-based media and combinations thereof; 
 (b) a rigid tubular channel at or near a floor region of the aeration chamber beneath the one or more media; 
 (c) an air line hose, the air line hose: (i) encased in the rigid tubular channel, and (ii) sized and positioned for performing air delivery to perform mixing and aeration within the aeration chamber, the air line hose being made of a flexible plastic material and having an impermeable section positioned and configured to transport air from a surface air pump to a permeable section of the air line hose that sits in the rigid tubular channel, at or near the floor region of the aeration chamber, and beneath the one or more media; and 
 (d) a second tank cover lid having two or more substantially vertical access ports that extend from above the aeration chamber in the supplemental tank, through the cover lid and to an above ground area, the two or more access ports configured and sized for inserting and removing, through the two or more access ports the air line hose in the rigid tubular channel, from the above ground area without having to enter the second tank. 
 
     
     
       8. The second tank of  claim 7 , wherein one of the plurality of adjacent chambers comprises a de-nitrification chamber. 
     
     
       9. A method for making an improved septic tank system, the tank system including a primary septic tank, at least one of a leach field and or an infiltration pit, the method comprising:
 (a) providing the tank system with a supplemental tank between the primary septic tank and the leach field or the infiltration pit, the supplemental tank being divided into a plurality of adjacent chambers, at least one of the adjacent chambers being an aeration chamber for converting ammonia-nitrogen to nitrate-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen and reducing biochemical oxygen demand, the aeration chamber containing one or more media fixed within the aeration chamber for supporting bio growth under aerobic conditions, saw the one or more media selected from the group consisting of limestone, a plastic bio-support media, a wood-based media and combinations thereof; the supplemental tank further including: (i) a rigid tubular channel at or near a floor region of the aeration chamber beneath the one or more media; (ii) an air line hose, the air line hose being encased in and protected by the rigid tubular channel, and adapted for performing air delivery to perform mixing and aeration within the aeration chamber, the air line hose being made of a flexible plastic material and having an impermeable section positioned and configured to transport air from a surface air pump to a permeable section of the air line hose that sits in the rigid tubular channel, at or near the floor region of the aeration chamber, and beneath the one or more media; and 
 (b) providing the supplemental tank with tank cover lid having two or more substantially vertical access ports that extend from above the aeration chamber in the supplemental tank, through the cover lid and to an above ground area, the two or more access ports configured and sized for inserting and removing, through the two or more access ports, the air line hose in the rigid tubular channel, from the above ground area without having to enter the supplemental tank.